Opinion: Why the creation of Aber district is an unnecessary divide

As many may be celebrating the proposal to create Aber district from Oyam, I personally believe this isn’t a smart move—at least not yet.

The call for the creation of Aber District from the current Oyam District is another echo in Uganda’s decades-long pattern of administrative fragmentation.

While the intention to “bring services closer to the people” is always the public justification, a deeper look at the region’s history and the realities of governance and service delivery reveals that this proposal is neither practical nor progressive. It risks becoming yet another costly political move that adds layers of bureaucracy while doing little to improve the quality of life for ordinary citizens.

To understand why this latest push for district creation is misguided, we must first revisit the history of administrative restructuring in the Lango sub-region.

Once upon a time, all of Lango was a single district. That unity ended in 1974 when the large Lango district was divided into two: Apac in the west and Lira in the east. The stated purpose was efficiency and better service delivery.

Yet, over the years, those districts continued to split like amoebas. From the original Apac came Oyam in 2006, Kole in 2010, and Kwania in 2018. On the other side, Greater Lira was subdivided into Dokolo, Alebtong, and Otuke.

The pattern has been clear: every time a district is split, leaders promise that government will come “closer to the people.” But the outcomes have been repetitive, underfunded local governments, duplicated administrative structures, and neglected development priorities.

Each new district requires an entire administrative setup: new headquarters, a Chief Administrative Officer, a District Chairperson, councilors, offices, vehicles, and countless support staff. These structures come at enormous cost money that could instead be used to improve schools, roads, or hospitals.

The result is a growing bureaucracy that consumes the very resources meant for service delivery. Uganda’s approach to multiplying districts has often spread limited funds even thinner, leaving both old and new districts struggling with the same inefficiencies.

Oyam district stands as a prime example of why creating Aber district is unnecessary. Despite resource challenges, Oyam has performed impressively in implementing national programs. It has been recognized among the top-performing districts in the execution of the Parish Development Model (PDM) a key government initiative aimed at transforming rural economies.

Also read: Oyam residents demand Aber district: “No Aber, No Vote for Museveni”

This level of performance suggests that Oyam’s current structure is functional and capable of addressing local needs without fragmentation.

As of 2024, Oyam district in Uganda has a population of 477,464 people, comprising 224,158 males. The district is administratively organized into 16 sub-counties, 74 parishes, and 1,094 villages.

In terms of infrastructure, Oyam already boasts 44 health facilities, with Anyeke Health Centre IV serving as the main referral point for the entire district. Plans are in progress to upgrade this facility into a full-fledged referral hospital a move that reflects a smart investment strategy focused on strengthening existing systems rather than creating new ones from scratch.

Within Oyam, sub-counties like Aber already benefit from district-wide planning and resources. Local organizations such as ABEKAM (Aber and Kamdini) are connecting farmers to markets and promoting grassroots development. The system, though imperfect, is functional. That is a strong case for improvement, not division.

Those advocating for Aber’s elevation to district status often cite poor roads, distant health facilities, and slow service delivery. But these challenges are rooted not in geography, but in governance.

Poor roads result from inadequate funding and weak oversight, not long distances between administrative centers. The real solution lies in increased budget allocations for road works and stricter supervision of engineering departments not in creating another underfunded district that will inherit the same roads.

Similarly, long distances to health centers can be addressed by upgrading existing facilities, staffing them adequately, and ensuring consistent drug supplies. Elevating Anyeke Health Centre IV to hospital status would directly improve access to advanced care. The problem is one of resource prioritization, not administrative boundaries.

Corruption, absenteeism, and inefficiency among public servants, some of the grievances often used to justify new districts are governance challenges, not structural ones.

Creating a new district simply multiplies the number of people who can mismanage public funds or neglect their duties unless accountability systems are strengthened. Strengthening these efforts would bring more lasting change than carving out yet another district.

Uganda now stands at a crossroads. It can either continue down the path of administrative fragmentation or shift its focus to consolidation and innovation. The proposed Aber District, if created, would certainly divert scarce funds resources that should instead be directed toward upgrading schools, equipping health centers, rehabilitating roads, and supporting agricultural extension services.

What the people of Oyam, and indeed the entire Lango sub-region, need is not another district headquarters but tangible investments that reach their homes and communities.

The way forward should involve three things:

Funding and empowering existing sub-counties and town councils. Oyam’s 16 administrative units need more budgetary support and skilled personnel, not a new district structure.

Investing in critical infrastructure, especially health and roads, which have a direct impact on people’s daily lives.

Strengthening governance and accountability, ensuring every shilling sent from the central government translates into visible development.

I would say, Aber’s call for district status may satisfy a few political ambitions, but it does not address the real needs of the people. It risks replicating the mistakes of the past, expanding bureaucracy while neglecting development. Oyam has proven capable of managing its affairs; it simply needs stronger support, not dismemberment.

Uganda must break free from this costly tradition of administrative inflation. Development is not achieved by drawing new lines on a map but by delivering real services to real people.

Aber doesn’t need a new district, it needs better governance, fairer resource distribution, and accountable leadership within the structure that already exists.